The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009

• Citation: S.I. 2009/203
• Sections: 21

Section 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009 and shall come into force on 2nd March 2009.

(2) This Order shall extend to England and Wales only.

Section 2 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

The Police Act 1997 is amended as follows.

Section 3 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

(1) Section 113A (criminal record certificates) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (2) insert—

(2A) But an application for a criminal record certificate need not be countersigned by a registered person if—

(a) the application is transmitted to the Secretary of State electronically by a registered person who satisfies conditions determined by the Secretary of State, and

(b) it is transmitted in accordance with requirements determined by the Secretary of State.

(3) In subsection (4) for “the registered person who countersigned” substitute “whoever acted as the registered person in relation to”.

(4) After subsection (8) insert—

(9) For the purposes of this Part a person acts as the registered person in relation to an application for a criminal record certificate if the person—

(a) countersigns the application, or

(b) transmits the application to the Secretary of State under subsection (2A).

Section 4 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

(1) Section 113B (enhanced criminal record certificates) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (2) insert—

(2A) But an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate need not be countersigned by a registered person if—

(a) the application is transmitted to the Secretary of State electronically by a registered person who satisfies conditions determined by the Secretary of State, and

(b) it is transmitted in accordance with requirements determined by the Secretary of State.

(3) In subsection (6) for “the registered person who countersigned” substitute “whoever acted as the registered person in relation to”.

(4) After subsection (11) insert—

(12) For the purposes of this Part a person acts as the registered person in relation to an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate if the person—

(a) countersigns the application, or

(b) transmits the application to the Secretary of State under subsection (2A).

Section 5 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

In section 120(5)(b) (requirements for bodies applying for registration) for “countersign” substitute “act as the registered person in relation to”.

Section 6 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

(1) Section 120ZA (regulations about registration) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (2)(d) after “this Part” insert “or the transmitting of applications under section 113A(2A) or 113B(2A)”.

(3) In subsection (4)—

(a) in paragraph (a) for “he countersigns” substitute “acting as the registered person in relation to”, and

(b) in paragraph (b) for “registered person who countersigns it” substitute “person who acts as the registered person in relation to the application”.

Section 7 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

In section 120A(4) (provision of information about suitability of registered persons)—

(a) in paragraph (b)(iii) for “the countersigning of applications by a particular applicant for registration or by a particular registered person” substitute “a particular applicant for registration, or a particular registered person, acting as the registered person in relation to applications under this Part”, and

(b) in paragraph (c) for “the countersigning of” substitute “a person acting as the registered person in relation to”.

Section 8 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

(1) Section 120AA (refusal, cancellation or suspension of registration on other grounds) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) for “countersign” substitute “act as the registered person in relation to”.

(3) In subsection (2)—

(a) in paragraph (a) for “countersign” substitute “act as the registered person in relation to”, and

(b) in paragraph (b) for “countersigned” substitute “acted as the registered person in relation to”.

Section 9 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

In section 120AB(8) (exception from procedure for cancellation or suspension) for “countersigning” substitute “acting as the registered person in relation to”.

Section 10 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

In section 122(3) (code of practice)—

(a) for “registered person who countersigned” (both as enacted and as substituted by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) substitute “person who acted as the registered person in relation to”, and

(b) in paragraph (b) for “countersigned” substitute “acted as the registered person”.

Section 11 Amendments to the Police Act 1997

(1) Section 124 (offences: disclosure) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)(b) and (c) for “countersigned” substitute “acted as the registered person in relation to”.

(3) In subsection (2) for “countersigned” substitute “in relation to which the person who acted as the registered person did so”.

(4) In subsection (3) for “countersigned by or at the request of an individual” substitute “in relation to which an individual acted as the registered person, or in relation to which the person who acted as the registered person did so at the request of an individual”.

Section 12 Amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended as follows.

Section 13 Amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

(1) Section 15 (education establishments and office holders: checks) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (3) for paragraph (b) substitute—

(b) the person who acted as the registered person in relation to the application for the certificate did so on behalf of P,

(3) In subsection (6) for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

(a) P acted as the registered person in relation to the application for the certificate, or

(b) the person who acted as the registered person in relation to the application did so on behalf of P.

(4) After subsection (7) insert—

(8) References in this section to a person acting as the registered person in relation to an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate must be construed in accordance with section 113B(12) of the Police Act 1997.

Section 14 Amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

(1) Schedule 5 (appropriate verification) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 2(1) for paragraph (b) substitute—

(b) the person who acted as the registered person in relation to the application for the certificate did so on behalf of the regulated activity provider,

(3) In paragraph 12 for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

(a) the regulated activity provider or personnel supplier acted as the registered person in relation to the application for the certificate, or

(b) the person who acted as the registered person in relation to the application did so on behalf of the regulated activity provider or personnel supplier.

(4) After paragraph 12 insert—

(12A) References in this Schedule to a person acting as the registered person in relation to an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate must be construed in accordance with section 113B(12) of the Police Act 1997.

Section 15 Amendments to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

(1) Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 (employment businesses: failure to check) is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraph (3) for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

(a) P acted as the registered person in relation to the application for the certificate, or

(b) the person who acted as the registered person in relation to the application did so on behalf of P.

(3) After sub-paragraph (3) insert—

(3A) References in sub-paragraph (3) to a person acting as the registered person in relation to an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate must be construed in accordance with section 113B(12) of the Police Act 1997.

Section 16 Amendment to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006

The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006 are amended as follows.

Section 17 Amendment to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006

In regulation 3(1)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (e)(i) after “under section 113A or 113B” insert “or transmit applications under section 113A(2A) or 113B(2A)”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (f)(i) after “in relation to the countersigning” insert “or the transmission”.

Section 18 Amendment to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006

In regulation 4(1) after “in relation to the countersigning” insert “or the transmission”.

Section 19 Amendment to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006

In regulation 7(l) for “countersigned by the registered person” substitute “in relation to which the registered person has acted as a registered person”.

Section 20 Amendment to the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006

In regulation 10(1) after “countersign” insert “or transmit”.

Section 21 Prescribed form of applications

(1) An application to which the following paragraph applies shall be treated as having been made in the form prescribed for the purposes of section 113A(1)(a) or 113B(1)(a) of the Police Act 1997.

(2) This paragraph applies to an application if—

(a) it includes the information required to be included in the form so prescribed; and

(b) it is transmitted to the Secretary of State under sections 113A(2A) or 113B(2A) (as the case may be).